Instrumental and Singing Teaching

The College allows for extensive teaching of instruments and singing from visiting tutors. Some 750 individual Music lessons are given weekly and are available on piano, organ, harpsichord, violin, viola, cello, double-bass, recorder, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, saxophone, trombone, tuba, euphonium, percussion, classical and electric guitar and singing. Lessons in Alexander Technique and Conducting are also available. There are currently 48 Visiting Music Teachers and progress reports are sent to parents twice a year. The boys are encouraged to prepare for the examinations of either the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music or Trinity College London.

Singing has always enjoyed a high profile within the College and is taught from DUCKS onwards. At present there are over 70 boys receiving individual tuition from four specialist teachers. The Singing Department, meanwhile, is responsible for the training of the Chapel Choral scholars (see Chapel Choir for more information) and any boy wishing to develop their voice in any medium of music.

Recent pupils have had solo and chorus roles for The Royal Opera House, English National Opera and Glyndebourne Festival Opera. There are always boys in the College who win places in the National Youth Orchestra and a number of boys routinely go on to win organ, choral and instrumental scholarships at Oxbridge Colleges, Universities and the conservatoires.